Pause & Reflect is a series that presents meditative passages from the writings of the Baha ' i Faith. The theme of this volume is hope. There is little doubt that we are living in unsettling times, and it is easy to become overwhelmed by events unfolding in the world and to feel a sense of despair. However, according to the Baha ' i writings, this upheaval is serving a purpose essential to the advancement of civilization. The passages collected here contain wisdom that can imbue our lives with a hopeful and purposeful perspective capable of transforming our reality into one of hope-- hope for our loved ones, for our communities, for the future of our planet, and for all of humanity.